Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus 

 

College can and should be an exciting and enriching experience.

The first step toward protecting students from alcohol abuse while away at college is to investigate various colleges stand on drinking and encourage students to choose those schools that focus more on academics, social development and campus community safety.

Each year the consequences of college drinking are more significant, more destructive, and more costly than most Americans realize. Fortunately, more and more colleges are adopting aggressive measures to conquer the problem of alcohol abuse on the college campus.

Research has shown that of all substances that are use on college campuses, alcohol causes the most problems. Studies show that 43% of all students report drinking in an unsafe manner at some point in their college career. Twenty percent of student report drinking in a reckless manner often or on a regular basis.

It is important to understand that the consequences of this type of drinking are not confined only to the students doing the drinking but the responsible students who do not drink or who drink legally and safely can become victims as well.

Some examples are: Sixty percent of students have had study or sleep disturbed on a regular basis. Fifty four percent have had to take care of a drunken fellow student.

Twenty percent have encountered unwanted sexual advances from drunken students. Nine percent of students have been assaulted by a drunken student. Thirteen percent of students have been the victims of date rape at the hands of a drunken student. Evidence suggests that the first six weeks of the school year are critical to a students academic success.

It is also during this time that many students initiate the habit of excessive drinking. Aside from the physical harm this causes, it also inhibits the process of adapting to campus life.

Many students who do not return to college for the second year are students who drink excessively during their first semester at college. The primary influence that can keep students from drinking excessively is the parent.

 Did You Know

 

For the alcoholic, quitting drinking is extremely difficult and something that takes time, patience, and dedication. Recovery is not a task that can be entered into lightly or without reservation. If you don't have access to an AA support group then you have 3 other options.

You can use self-help books where the alcoholic is taking responsibility for his own health. This can work well because once the person knows of the problem it becomes easier to resolve.

By putting together their own plan of action and choosing his own techniques, the alcoholic takes an active role in the recovery process. The more common techniques include examining the individual’s need for alcohol, decide whether to quit drinking altogether, or just to cut back, identify the reasons for quitting drinking and sharing the recovery plan with others. These are just a few steps that can be involved in self-recovery.

Another thing that someone with alcoholism can do to recover from it is to use a combination of approaches. This could involve working on self-help issues, going to AA meetings and involving other people in the process for support.

The benefit of this approach is that you can work on the issues behind the drinking while at the same time developing some kind of accountability to others. Plus you would be able to rely on support from people around you when you go through the tough times.

 
 
There are three ways a parent can influence a student in a way that can help keep him or her from college drinking.
 
1. Parents need to help their children choose the right college. This would include colleges with low rates of alcohol related incidences as well as colleges with an emphasis toward alcohol education and campus safety.
 
2. Once the student goes off to college it is important for the parents to stay involved in their childs life and to be aware of what they are doing and what they are going through.
 
3. If a parent thinks that their child may be in danger of having problems with alcohol they should seek assistance immediately. Early intervention brings the best and most successful outcomes.
 
Interesting Facts

Drinking steadily and consistently over time can cause a physical dependence on alcohol as well as withdrawal symptoms when going without alcohol for very long. Physical dependence will not lead to alcoholism by itself.

There must first be issues involved that cause the person to abuse alcohol and to abuse alcohol in an effort to deal with painful emotions and/or experiences. Many factors lead to alcoholism and alcohol abuse.

These things are important to recognize when the alcoholic goes through recovery and quits abusing alcohol.

Any factors that can be removed or solved need to be addressed as part of the alcoholism treatment.
 
 Parent and student education is key to keeping college campuses safe and keeping students from developing alcohol addictions. In recent years, campus administrators have realized the importance of campus involvement in the life of the student as well.
 
Working together it is possible to conquer the problem of excessive drinking on college campuses.

 

 
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Site Map
What is the Attraction To Alcohol
Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem
◦ The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2
◦ A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism
◦ Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus
◦ The Brain And Alcohol
◦ Health Risks For Women Alcoholics
◦ Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic
◦ How A Child See's Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Detoxification Steps
◦ Alcoholism and the Workplace
◦ The Children of Alcoholics
◦ Common Questions About Alcoholism
◦ Tests for Alcohol Use
◦ Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center
◦ The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving
◦ The War On Drunk Driving
◦ How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help
◦ Some Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
◦ Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal
◦ Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking
◦ A Portrait Of An Alcoholic
◦ The Symptoms of Alcoholism
◦ Basic Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Hard Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer
◦ The College Campus And Alcoholism
◦ Dangers of Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12
◦ What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout
◦ New Shot to Treat Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism's Physical Effects
◦ Group Support For Alcoholism
◦ Threats From Alcoholism
◦ The Truth About Alcoholism
◦ Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism
◦ Treatments for Alcoholism
◦ Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic
◦ Recovering From Alcoholism
◦ Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic
◦ What Is Alcholism
◦ Family Members Drinking Too Much
◦ Explain Alcoholism
◦ Who Are The Alcoholics
◦ Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism
◦ Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family
◦ Health Consequences Of Alcoholism
◦ Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism
◦ Screening Tests For Alcoholism
◦ What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
◦ What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse
◦ How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA
◦ The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous
◦ Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable
◦ The Causes of Alcoholism
◦ So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?
◦ Is Alcoholism Hereditary
◦ What Children Need to Know About Alcohol
◦ How to Recognize When Children are Drinking
◦ What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic
◦ How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight